RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, in his annual Vijayadashmi address, said construction of Ram Temple will pave way for atmosphere of goodwill and oneness.

Nagpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat Thursday said the Modi government should clear the path for construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya through an appropriate and requisite law.

He said the temple construction was necessary from the “self-esteem point of view” and it will also pave way for an atmosphere of goodwill and oneness.

Bhagwat was delivering his annual Vijyadashmi speech at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, the last before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The Sangh was founded on the occasion of Vijyadashmi in 1925, and its chiefs’ annual speech has been used to put out the organisation’s perspectives on issues of national and social importance.

The Sangh, he said, has been associated with sentiments of crores of countrymen in the efforts for construction of a magnificent Ram temple at the birthplace of Lord Rama, who is the personification of life energy of the nation and icon of upholding the dharma.

“The place of janmabhoomi is yet to be allocated for the construction of the temple although all kinds of evidence have affirmed that there was a temple at that place,” he said.

There is an obvious game plan of a few elements to stall the judgment by presenting various newer interventions in the judicial process, Bhagwat said, adding that it is nobody’s interest to test the patience of society without any reason.

“The construction of the temple is necessary from the self-esteem point of view, it will also pave the way for an atmosphere of goodwill and oneness in the country,” he said.

“This matter of national interest is being obstructed by some fundamentalist elements and forces that play communal politics for selfish gains. Politics is delaying the construction of Ram Mandir,” he said.

Despite such machinations, the decision on ownership of the land should be expedited and the government should clear the path for the construction of the “grand temple through an appropriate and requisite law.”

Defence production

Bhagwat said India cannot be assured about its security without becoming self-reliant in defence production, while underlining that the country should purchase defence equipment from international market on its own terms.

Bhagwat’s remarks on defence production assume significance as the BJP-led government is under attack from the Congress over the Rafale fighter jet deal with France.

“The country cannot be assured about its security without becoming self-reliant in defence production,” Bhagwat said.

He said that to sell its products in the international market, sometimes a country needs to purchase something from a foreign nation. Thus, buying defence equipment may be a part of trade strategy, or at times required also, the RSS chief said.

“This process of give-and-take in trade should not be stopped. It should be on our terms and we should not be dependent on anyone else for our security. We should get technology and enhance our domestic capacity,” he added.

Bhagwat said the country is not careless about its security but there is a need to be more active and vigilant. He asserted the country should become so powerful that no one dares to attack it.

“India has always displayed its clear intent to maintain peaceful and cordial relations with all countries, in words and deeds — standing and acting firm and making prudent use of our capabilities while initiating bold actions wherever necessary in context of national security,” Bhagwat said.

Speaking on border and internal security, he said these are issues of foremost importance as a secure border and internal landscape provide opportunity to the nation for making efforts towards prosperity and development.

Underscoring the importance of keeping the morale of armed forces high, he said it was essential to be more attentive towards their and their families’ needs.

“There have been some laudable efforts in this regard by the government.”

Maoism is ‘urban’ and neo-Left ‘anti-national’

Bhagwat also said Maoism has always been “urban” and the neo-Left doctrine of urban Naxals is to establish an “anti-national” leadership with blind followers solely committed to them.

He charged that “urban Maoism” was propagating falsehood and spreading hatred in the society.

Maoism has always been urban which used neglected sections of society to further its agenda, he said.

“These people (Maoists) take strength from the country’s enemies and always malign the nation wherever they go,” he said.

To establish an anti-national leadership with blind followers solely committed to them is the ‘neo-Left’ doctrine of these urban Naxals, he said.

Their cohorts already established in social media, intellectual circles and other institutions are associated with such activities, he added.

Through the manufacturing of a vicious atmosphere that weakens the social cohesion – essentially the bedrock of internal security of a nation a world of psychological warfare is being carved out, he charged.

“This is called as ‘Mantrayuddh‘ in our traditional ‘rajneeti shastras‘,” he said.

Bhagwat said the government and the administration need to address this.

A number of well-known activists in the country were arrested in the recent past for their alleged links with Naxals. – PTI